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West Seattle restaurants: Wing Dome closing in Junction

After two years, The Wing Dome is closing its West Seattle location after this weekend. Three WSB’ers sent tips on this last night (thank you!) and today, company spokesperson Katie Wilkinson confirms it via e-mail:

It has been our pleasure for Wing Dome to be part of the West Seattle community for the past few years. Unfortunately the performance of this location has been impacted by difficult economic conditions, and we are saddened to announce the decision to close our restaurant in the Junction. On a positive note, we have been successful in relocating most of our team members to other locations in our family of restaurants. We have enjoyed serving the West Seattle community and are grateful for the support. Sunday, September 30, will be our last day of operation.

We remain committed to growth opportunities for Wing Dome when and where they make sense. Our other Wing Dome locations continue to thrive including a recently completed remodel of our interior and patio at Greenwood and expansion that has doubled the size of our space in Kirkland.

The Junction Wing Dome opened in October 2010, in space that had previously been part of the CAPERS retail store, which continues to operate in a smaller space to the south.

The last time we were there, we received the WORST service I have ever received. In fact, it was the first and only time I left a restaurant, but that was after waiting 20 minutes for someone to tak our order and another 35 to get our food….which we left before receiving after hearing the server yell back to the kitchen guys about our order 4 times. We had been there before, and received OK service the 5 or so other times we were there, so I’m assuming it was getting worse based on the current staff. We like to support local businesses, but there is obviously a reason this one did not do well. I have a feeling we were not the only ones who had such horrible service and that is why they’re closing. Several other businesses in that area do very well because they focus on service as much as their food quality. We hate to see local businesses close, but I’m sorry to say, this isn’t a big surprise in our house.

I only went once. The menu and decor did not really appeal to me personally. Will be interested to see what comes next. It’s the only place on the Junction I can think of that has a back patio which if done right could be a real asset

I was literally JUST wondering about Wing Dome. I went only once, closer to when they opened. It was fine (it’s just not my kind of place). But it did always seem empty when I drove by. Can someone talk Meanders into moving there instead of White Center?

With regard to the poor service comment, i sort of agree. I loved taking the family there and watching a game or just dinner but we too noticed a quick drop in service.

For the first year or so, there was a consistent, courteous and quick staff that we got to know by sight the couple times a month that we would go. Sometime this summer, the whole staff changed and everything took forever. I don’t know if the staff change was in response to the owners realizing that they were closing or if the slowdown just hastened the closure.

It’s a shame. Wing Dome was my favorite easy hangout where I could take the family or just have a laid back dinner.

I wanted Wing Dome to succeed! Tried to eat there several times but the food was pre-cooked and awful. No one seemed to care. That’s one of the problems with places that have more than one location; who’s watching over things. I think if they had paid attention to food and service it really could have been a success. But, what a perfect spot for a well run Sports Bar! Don’t give up. It could happen.

Meh, slow service and wings that sucked. No meat to them and all the hot sauce was just pepper extract to varying degrees.

For the NFL day games I go to Maharaja. Bogie’s bar in the back has 6 TVs and the ticket. He usually does lunch or breakfast each week as well depending on his feeling and when the games are playing. Last week, Peco’s BBQ.

I am not starting a discussion about more condos, but more condos will drive a lot more opportunity for businesses like Wing Dom. I think West Seattle has become more family oriented over the years and places like this aren’t a big draw for a family. Condos and apartments will bring more single, younger people.

Stace – I definitely share your concern. More condos, less businesses or tear down buildings with businesses to build townhomes and apartments has been trending up these past 5 years or so..
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All, I wonder what the back story is? Are they closing because rent is too high, not enough people choosing to eat/drink there? Whenever I was there I had good service and the food was good and it seemed like a busy place. Just sorta shocked at this news.

I have not been, always wanted to go, but never made it. And I agree its a bit out of place where it is at. And bad service will kill a place. Glad to hear that the employees did find new locations to go to though. And any place other than the existing place for Meanders would be great. I just cannot go in there, it always seems not right, bad paint job, and just not clean feeling.

Honestly, the food at this place isn’t that good. I went once with my son and the wings were so bad my son wouldn’t eat them and that is saying a lot. I never went back after that. Too expensive for below average food is not my idea of a good time.

wow, they spent alot of money fixing that place up. Nice porch in the back. I only ate there once & thought the wings were extremely hot even though I didn’t order them that way. I’ve eaten at their location on Greenwood years back and loved it so go figure. Hope the rent wasn’t the issue. If so, it won’t matter who is there.

Love Angelina’s — but every time we’ve tried to sit in the bar the same 3 people were at the counter trying to out yell each other! Had nothing to do with the sports on the tv either. Now just go for dinner ..there are big tv’s in the dining room(just try to sit away from the bar entrance in case the 3 shouters are there). Always sad to see a business leave WS-enjoyed Wing Dome & haven’t experienced the bad service mentioned here-but that will surely keep folks from coming back. By the way Christos on Alki has GREAT wings..tv’s in the restaurant & at the bar. They also have Happy Hour a new menu & Trivia on Mondays! Friendly owners & great staff!

Another fourth rate chain bites the dust! Love it! Got rid of PlaceIwouldneverbuyanythingformyPetCo, got rid of SuperSnakeoil, and Papa Crappy’s Pizza … Good riddance to corporate storefronts on California! Getting rid of the two McDiabetes locations on CA will probably never happen, but I can hope.

I was at the Brickyard BBQ this past Sunday and the owner let us know that they just purchased the full football cable package and will be advertising soon. So at least you can get football, BBQ and beer (& liquor) there. Looks like they open at 11am?

When I heard the Wingdome was opening its fourth location in WS, I went to two of their other places, on Greenwood and in Kent (there’s also another one in downtown Kirkland) – anemic wings, uninspired sauce, so-so service… and thus NEVER went to the WS location (I live in North Admiral). Plus, poor signage – if you didn’t already know it was there, you would have NO idea that there was a Wingdome in WS.

I don’t think there is anything about the location that makes it necessarily bad for a restaurant. I will say that I thought the quality was better when they first opened. Over time, the size of the wings and the level of “cook” was wildly inconsistent, and I stopped going there. Maybe it was similar experiences from others that led to the decline in business and, eventually, the necessity to close down.

Open any restaurant with “locally-sourced” and “organic” somewhere in the menu, charge an arm and a leg, and you’ll have the place full of the new trendy West Seattleites, even if the food is mediocre.

Somebody had the nerve to mention bamboo? Their food is overpriced and, honestly, not very good. Go there and get their happy hour wings and tell me they are not a joke. They’re not much bigger/wider than your thumb and they charge $6.99 for them. I made that mistake twice, it will never happen again. As for wing dome, their food wasn’t much better. I know Buffalo wild wings (BW3’s for those familiar with them) is a corporate chain, but not too many people can touch the quality they can provide on a consistent basis. Too bad they haven’t made it to Seattle yet.

I’ve been going to Wingdome locations since the early 90’s when they had one on The Ave in the U-District and one on 45th in Wallingford – awesome. The location in Greenwood is great. They were even downtown for a bit. When they announced a WS location, I was ecstatic! I went when they opened and figured the slow service would improve with time…I was wrong. I’ve been going still, just because I WANT them to succeed and I love wings and beer…and football, but I just don’t think it ever really clicked here. Also, the whole vibe changed a few years ago when they sold out to a larger chain (the one responsible for this WS location and the remodeling of the other ones)…they added a bunch of stuff to the menu (used to be wings, beer and one salad) and made having cocktails available a priority. My next stop for wings would be Rocksport (very good)but…no more. Sigh.

I would never criticize a business still trying to survive, but in light of their imminent closure, now I will weigh in–we ate at WingDome a month or so back, and the service and food were both well below par. No surprise that they are closing, the restaurant biz is tough even when done properly.

We went there this evening and almost walked out. There was only one waitress working. They took forever to serve us and my kids were starving. My daughter asked me how long does it take to make a hotdog. I see why they are closing. Really poor service and the prices were pretty steep for the type of food on the menu.

When this place was gearing up, I’d walk by it and count the days until it opened. I moved here totaly by myself ten years ago and wanted to finaly find a “spot” where the food was good but not too pricey, and there was a lively, sporty atmosphere with lotsa TVs and a decent bar. Well, that was the Wing Dome. Been there probably a hundred times.

I will very much miss my little home-away-from-home. The service was always great, the food was yummy, and it was always a good time.

I’ll be there at the bar with my Seahawks jersey on to say goodbye (and have a few Makers Marks!)

No surprise, service was always slow and last time I looked at the menu each wing was $1.69!!! I could buy a whole chicken for the price of six wings. BTW, as far as what should go there now, maybe they can have a place that serves cheap frozen, processed food for the old grumpy west seattleites like G. :)

Horrible food – always seemed out of place in the Junction. As for ‘economic conditions’, other restaurants in nearby locations – those with actual good food and fair prices- have seemed to be OK…
Although the restaurant business seems rough, no matter what.

Service aside which wasn’t bad the time I went there, what kind of food are people used to eating that garners a good food rating for the Wing Dome? I tried it one afternoon when I needed a snack. I couldn’t believe how manufactured the chicken tasted and could not ignore the image that came to mind of what awful farm factory must have produced it as well as the chemicals that were probably added to create the unnatural juiciness. After just a few bites I threw the wings away. Yuck!

I’m curious as to how some have been able to thrive in this economy selling only cupcakes with coffee or bread and pastries but that others can’t make it selling chicken wings and beer. Those “difficult economic conditions” certainly are a cruel mistress.

Alex-all is not lost!Read the posts here-many folks offering suggestions of where to go to get wings-including myself-but I had never thought of or gone to some of the other places mentioned-but sure will now!

Can’t wait to see what’s next to move in there! As for a good sports place, i agree with suggestions of The Bridge (excellent food too!) and Maharaja. Was just at the Maharaja for the Monday Night Football game heard round the world, and it was a lot of fun!

Admittedly, I have never wanted to eat wings or frequent a fast food chain (and that’s what it is to me), but twice I had negative experiences with Wing Dome nonetheless – once when drunk patrons were so obnoxious outside that they interfered with our dinner next door, and once when a large, drunk man plowed into me on the sidewalk.

Sorry to say, I thought it was an eyesore (like having a Walmart there, like someone insinuated) and I’m glad to see it go. IMO. I’ve always like Elliott for a bar-type atmosphere!

I am still sort of thinking about the place next door that USED to be “estrogen-heavy high tea” (and great fun) but now seems to be promoting as some kind of Italian Bistro – I haven’t been since the very day of the change-over. Wing Dome kind of was a rip off. We went to the Bridge the other night, it was GREAT.

“Until we get business friendly leadership in the district we will continue to see our favorite shops and restaurants close down. ”

Er, no. Until we get good shops and restaurants the old ones will fail. Sorry to hear this, but EVERY single lunch time I’ve eaten in that place there was only one or two other tables (or people) in the joint. They failed not because of some vague “policy” issues in the District (?) but because they didn’t attract customers. That happens. 50% of ALL restaurants fail in their first year, it’s a fickle hard business. Lord, look at the place that is now “A Terrible Beauty”…the Irish pub. That’s been SO many things in 10 years I can’t even name them all (Godfathers, Guppies, oyster bar, french restaurant, etc, etc). That’s life…it doesn’t point to any evil policies, just a failed business.

That place felt cold and it wasn’t just the service. Dry wings and extra money for more sauce? Amazing that the hard times could hit so precisely that location yet let the beer junction and so many other places flourish.

I was a fan, but the last few times there, I was pretty disppointed. Wings getting pretty scrawny, hamburgers dry.

I have heard stories that demand for wings is high and prices skyrocketing. I’m guessing the economics for a place focused on wings are pretty challenging. Marginal operations are going to fail if they can’t get away from passing higher costs to customers.

I really wanted to love the place and was eagerly awaiting their opening. I liked the decor and the concept. Went there once and got a “wing” that was no bigger than a grape. Went there again and had very bad service. Went a third time and decided it was time to perfect my own recipe for wings at home. Way better, way cheaper and I don’t have limits on the number of sauces I can enjoy! My wife thought she’d be thoughtful and suggested the Wingdome for dinner a couple weeks ago – I politely declined. Far too expensive for bad service and miniscule portions.

As far as wings being in high demand – I hear they are very popular with chickens – they like to keep em.

I really did enjoy going to the wingdome last year for monday night football. My friends and I were there literally every monday. We knew all the servers and they knew us.
Unfortunately, Something happened this year and our first pre-game show was awful. And, we didn’t know a single person serving. We walked out the second time we were there.

If you are looking for a great place to go, the bridge is wonderful. I frequent there for NFL, NCAA and basketball games. Rita, the owner is involved and passionate about making the bridge a great place to be. (Clearly I spend too much time at the bar when you learn the owners name). I highly recommend it.

I really, really, really wanted the Wing Dome to succeed. I love wings and theirs were ok, but not great. I went probably 10-20x over the past 2 years and it was always just ok, never bad, never great. It was never packed and mostly less than half full, even at dinner time. I never understood why. I believe that the bar usually generates most of the profit for restaurants like that at it was pretty small. Also, I always went in through the back door and never saw anyone on that back deck. It was kind of sad. I wonder what the rent was for that location and if it is even possible to sell enough wings to pay those bills. I hate to say it, but we need more condos and townhouses to help our local businesses succeed.

We tried to go to the Wing Dome for the first time a few weeks ago, but the entrance door was so DIRTY, I could not bring myself to touch it. DISGUSTING! They serve food there?!…That’s it – it must be the economy. If only the economy was doing better, the door would be clean and the food would be delicious and the service would be great. Obama’s fault!

MarkITDS, that is certainly one problem in the restaurant industry; once cheap though flavorful variety meats, such as wings, flank steak, oxtail, cheeks, etc. are now becoming almost as expensive as the luxury cuts. Easy to charge an outrageous fee for a fork-tender filet mignon, quite a bit more difficult to sell “scraps” and charge enough to cover overhead.
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That being stated, the last time I went to WD (which IS a chain, though locally owned. what’s the problem with some of our local entrepeneurs being successful, Peter on Fauntleroy? Sure was a lot of breathless anticipation when Trader Joe’s bestowed upon us one of their oversized convenience stores. Funny how we celebrate the success of people from out of town, but if you live in our region and DARE be a success, you should be shunned?), which was a number of years before they moved here, I was extremely disappointed by the quality.
Hopefully, for the sake of their business, the managment will take some of the criticism related here and rework their formula. Good luck.

Best wings we have had were at the Brickyard BBQ in the Admiral district. Haven’t tried them since the new owners took over a few weeks ago but will go back. The food here is excellent, it just doesn’t seem to attract enough business.

The biggest reason why Wingdome is closing is because their prices were too high! For the size/quality of wing you got there, they were not worth a dollar apiece! And they didn’t give you much of a discount for purchasing more either — 10 were $10.95, 30 were $30.95 and 60 were $60.95. Nice disincentive to purchase more!!

My first reaction upon going to Wingdome the one and only time I went there was that I’d like to open up a competing place across the street and call it “Half-Price Wings”. Sure, Wingdome had certain specials that reduced the prices on certain nights — making the prices on those nights what they should have been in the first place!

Basically, I think plenty of people went there once and when they saw that the check was $40-50 for 2 people they realized they may as well go to Jak’s or Matador for better food and better service. Good riddance to overpriced WingDome!